TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Don't Pass Up On School Bus Safety

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: October 23, 2007

Motorists pass school buses at inopportune times, disregarding the stop arm and even passing at railroad crossings, according to School Board of Highlands County bus driver Jean Walker.

"This morning I had one go around me on the railroad tracks," she said.

Making the required stop at a railroad crossing, Walker activated her bus' four-way flashers and opened the door.

"They go behind us and then around and that's really dangerous for themselves," she said.
Walker drives about 60 miles a day on her route to and from Sebring High School, but some bus operators drive up to 100 miles a day.

The former 18-wheeler owner/operator said she's had a few close calls on U.S. 27, especially during the busy winter months. Impatient drivers pass and then cut close in front of the bus.

This week is National School Bus Safety Week with the theme – "Be Aware-Cross With Care."

Everyone one has a part in school bus safety, district Transportation Director David Solomon said. "So we have to look out; parents have to look out; and drivers most of all when they see those lights flashing and that stop arm comes out –– you don't drive through that."

School bus safety includes the students who are told to wait at bus stops at least five "giant" steps back with no pushing or running around the bus. They are told that if anything falls under the bus, to never go under the bus, but to alert the driver or another adult.

When crossing the street, students are instructed to walk 10 feet in front of the bus so they are always in view of the bus driver.

A lot of people wonder why buses stop on U.S. 27 instead of driving into and out of mobile home parks, Solomon said. A lot of times bus accidents happen when the bus is coming into an intersection or going out of an intersection.

When a bus stops on a divided highway, traffic on the other side of the median does not have to stop, but vehicles in all lanes of traffic following or along side the bus are required to stop.
School buses are also part of the safety equation.

About 60 percent of the district's buses in daily use are equipped with seat belts, which have been required on all buses manufactured after the year 2000.

Drivers make announcements to remind students to fasten their seat belts.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT